ABUs are not BDUs.
Quote from: Jester on March 20, 2018, 08:29:29 AMABUs are not BDUs. Hence why I stated BDUs. But that was not the point
5.1. Do not starch the ABU. Ironing of ABUs and center creasing of enlisted chevrons is authorized; however, repeated hot pressing or heavy ironing accelerates the overall wear of the fabric. Mixing and matching of the heavy weight version of the ABU and Ripstop Airman Battle Uniform (RABU) coat/trouser is not authorized.
Q12: Does the ABU require dry cleaning and/or pressing? A12: The ABU is literally a wash and wear item. In fact, starching and hot pressing of ABUs is prohibited. Also, one should not dry clean the ABU. Dry cleaning, starching and hot pressing will deteriorate the fiber in the uniform and shorten the wear life.
I found this on the Malstrom AFB site:QuoteQ12: Does the ABU require dry cleaning and/or pressing? A12: The ABU is literally a wash and wear item. In fact, starching and hot pressing of ABUs is prohibited. Also, one should not dry clean the ABU. Dry cleaning, starching and hot pressing will deteriorate the fiber in the uniform and shorten the wear life. If you're down for reading, check out the whole article! It has some interesting stuff about ABUs on there that CAP contrasts.http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/349915/qas-regarding-airman-battle-uniform/
I agree with the previous comment about the ABU being a utility uniform. If there is a need to put sharp creases in an ABU, that suggest the uniform of the day really ought to have been Class B or corporate equivalent. But then I'm a newbie, and my uniform experience comes from experience as a volunteer firefighter and EMT.
Quote from: hamburgee on March 20, 2018, 09:58:09 AMI found this on the Malstrom AFB site:QuoteQ12: Does the ABU require dry cleaning and/or pressing? A12: The ABU is literally a wash and wear item. In fact, starching and hot pressing of ABUs is prohibited. Also, one should not dry clean the ABU. Dry cleaning, starching and hot pressing will deteriorate the fiber in the uniform and shorten the wear life. If you're down for reading, check out the whole article! It has some interesting stuff about ABUs on there that CAP contrasts.http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/349915/qas-regarding-airman-battle-uniform/Which goes against the 2017 AFI that I posted above (as this page is from 2007). Whenever I read "prohibited," I personally like to know where that prohibition comes from. If I recall correctly, Army ACUs and Air Force ABUs were once prohibited, in regulation, from being ironed (I know we were always prohibited from ironing our ACUs), but that has since changed for the Air Force (I'm not sure if it was ever published as an official prohibited action). If CAP regulations don't prohibit it, it's not prohibited. If CAP regulations don't address a question, take it up the chain. Refer to Air Force guidance, if available, but understand that Air Force regulations do not apply to CAP unless specifically instructed, in CAP regs/manuals, to refer to the Air Force policy.
But the service uniforms are not tacti-kewl!